BALLARAT council workers will continue to conduct post-impact assessments on flood-affected households this week.Mayor Craig Fletcher said the assessments ensured residents were provided with the services they needed, including emergency accommodation."Council staff are volunteering and continuing to respond to calls or concerns of residents," Cr Fletcher said."We have had our health department people and building department going through to make sure buildings are structurally adequate and there are no health concerns for people and their homes."Approximately 20 homes in Ballarat, across Alfredton, Miner's Rest and Delacombe, were affected by last week's floods.Cr Fletcher said council workers were continuing to clear debris that had been washed onto the roads."Council's emergency planning kicked in immediately and we put our customer service and depot staff on around-the-clock response once the flooding started," he said."To see the flooded houses on Friday and to speak to the people whose houses were flooded was heart-wrenching."Meanwhile, VicRoads is continuing to assess flood-damaged roads and bridges and is starting repair works in Ballarat and surrounding areas.VicRoads Western Victoria acting regional director David O'Sullivan said keeping the Western Highway open had been a major priority."Road users should be careful when driving in locations where recent flooding has damaged or left water across roads," he said."Drivers should obey all road closure signs for their own safety and the safety of others."Mr O'Sullivan said VicRoads crews were spread out across Western Victoria, with staff carefully monitoring the flood situation in Horsham. Drivers can check road conditions at www.vicroads.vic.gov.au and report any road hazards by calling 13 11 70.

January 17 2011 - 12:45PM

Workers assess flood damage

BALLARAT council workers will continue to conduct post-impact assessments on flood-affected households this week.Mayor Craig Fletcher said the assessments ensured residents were provided with the services they needed, including emergency accommodation."Council staff are volunteering and continuing to respond to calls or concerns of residents," Cr Fletcher said."We have had our health department people and building department going through to make sure buildings are structurally adequate and there are no health concerns for people and their homes."Approximately 20 homes in Ballarat, across Alfredton, Miner's Rest and Delacombe, were affected by last week's floods.Cr Fletcher said council workers were continuing to clear debris that had been washed onto the roads."Council's emergency planning kicked in immediately and we put our customer service and depot staff on around-the-clock response once the flooding started," he said."To see the flooded houses on Friday and to speak to the people whose houses were flooded was heart-wrenching."Meanwhile, VicRoads is continuing to assess flood-damaged roads and bridges and is starting repair works in Ballarat and surrounding areas.VicRoads Western Victoria acting regional director David O'Sullivan said keeping the Western Highway open had been a major priority."Road users should be careful when driving in locations where recent flooding has damaged or left water across roads," he said."Drivers should obey all road closure signs for their own safety and the safety of others."Mr O'Sullivan said VicRoads crews were spread out across Western Victoria, with staff carefully monitoring the flood situation in Horsham. Drivers can check road conditions at www.vicroads.vic.gov.au and report any road hazards by calling 13 11 70.